White paper on Ganga to be submitted to PM: Swami Chidanand

"We will release a white paper on the status of Ganga and Yamuna rivers in the next 15 days and it will be submitted to the Prime Minister," Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muniji, the chairman of the Parmarth Niketan told media here today.

Besides the white paper, a documentary on the two rivers will also be given to the Prime Minister, he said.

Swami Chidanand said that though thousands of crores of rupees had been spent on Ganga Action Plan, the campaign had failed to meet its objective.

Calling the governemnt to include people from various fields in the campaign, he said "If the government launches the campaign by associating all sections of the society there would be no shortage of funds and manpower."

He said that MLAs and MPs from Uttar Pradesh should also come forward to ensure that the rivers remain clean.

Pointing that Chemical-based agriculture is adding to the pollution in the river Ganga, he demanded that polluting Ganga should be declared as a crime and only organic farming should be allowed within one kilometre periphery of the river.

He said that issues related to Ganga and its subsidiaries could be sorted out only by dialogue and not by dispute. "Action and not anshan is required," he said.

Asking Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to support the drive to save the rivers, he said, "He is young, well informed on environment and dynamic. He should start a cleaning drive for all the rivers in the state by associating youths."

Swami Chidanand said that he would soon meet Yadav and would discuss environmental development of areas around Ganga and Yamuna.